WOW! Not only was it reported in NY newspapers but Leo and Rod (ha, the rare time I don't mute them) just discussed the possibility of trading Bargnani.

Bottom line on discussion:
Team is struggling, look at veteran players (Bargnani, Calderon, Barbosa) who are assets to look at all possibilities to improve team.

I think Leo is reading RR.

When I heard that, I wondered whether Raptors brass was leaking the information out there in order to a) let it be known they're open to trading him, and b) make it so if he is traded, it doesn't seem like it comes out of nowhere to the fans.

Specific people on this site believe Andrea Bargnani is an ineffective and liable defender. Why do they believe this? It is assumed that a tall player must be a productive defender to be useful to their team. Andrea may be just developing his rebounding efficiency at a slower pace than other tall players. Andrea has immense pressure to score every night which may or may not be a direct result of his defensive deficiency. What is clear is that after Bosh left Andrea knew he would become the primary scorer. So he dedicated his summer improving his offensive effectiveness. As a result we can all agree the offensive production has been extraordinary. A full summer spent working on his offense unfortunately came at the expense of his defence. Fortunately, Andrea will rededicate himself to becoming a more productive defensive player and spend all summer working on that aspect of his game. And if his offensive improvements from the previous year are any indications I have very high hopes his defence can improve as well.

Specific people on this site believe Andrea Bargnani is an ineffective and liable defender. Why do they believe this? It is assumed that a tall player must be a productive defender to be useful to their team. Andrea may be just developing his rebounding efficiency at a slower pace than other tall players. Andrea has immense pressure to score every night which may or may not be a direct result of his defensive deficiency. What is clear is that after Bosh left Andrea knew he would become the primary scorer. So he dedicated his summer improving his offensive effectiveness. As a result we can all agree the offensive production has been extraordinary. A full summer spent working on his offense unfortunately came at the expense of his defence. Fortunately, Andrea will rededicate himself to becoming a more productive defensive player and spend all summer working on that aspect of his game. And if his offensive improvements from the previous year are any indications I have very high hopes his defence can improve as well.

Actually, nearly everyone on this site, as well as the entire NBA, believe that Bargnani is an ineffective and liable defender. And there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that his defense will improve. It hasn't in 5 years in the NBA.

And Bargnani is an extraordinary scorer. He averages 21.4 ppg on 17.8 shots per game. That's very good, but not great, by any stretch of the imagination.

Also, why are you speaking for Bargnani? You're not Charlz' ex-girlfriend, are you?

Bargnani says his position is power forward; still doesn't get defense

Good and bad of season:

The worst part was that we lost too many games. We were not close to making the playoffs so that's pretty disappointing, that's not what we had in mind. The good thing is that we had a lot of young guys, and had the possibility to develop these young gus. Everybody got better individually, as players, but we didn't get much better as a team as a group on the court, that's the next step.

Have you lead the team now that Chris Bosh is gone?

This year I was the focal point of the team, I think I got much better offensively. Everybody could see that, I learned all the stuff. Without Chris, it was even more difficult to score the ball, last year the opposite team was more focused on playing defense on Chris so for me it was much easier. . This year it was more complicated, I got much better offensively. I still got to get better, especially on the boards. Definitely need to do a better job of being more focused, it definitely has to be a focal part of me.

Is it focus and intensity that you need to develop on the defensive end?

Defense is a whole different thing. I was talking about rebounding, defense too. Everybody has to get better. They have to get better as a team, defense is teamwork. We all got to get better on the defensive end, it's not just on individual effort. A lot of times you get players you can't guard one-on-one, nobody can guard one-on-one, so the best defensive teams do teamwork. Like Boston, these kind of teams.

What did Colangelo and Triano say? Did they say assure you that you're part of the team going forward?

Well, nobody knows what's going to happen going forward. You can't really say, nobody can assure you what it's going to be next year. Nobody knows what's going to happen, we talked about more what happened this year.

Plans for summer.

National team, I got European Championship that will count for the Olympic qualifications. I'll definitely play there. Other than that, I don't know.

How are you preparing for the lockout?

I will have to organize myself to workout in Rome, Italy. I cannot come back here and use the Raptors faciliites, I will have to find out what the best solution. Probably be in Rome, hire a coach or something, I'll have to organize myself.

Reggie asked the young guys to save money for the lockout, what do you think?

You have to ask each player, I saved mine, I'll be okay for the lockout.

Who's fault is the poor defense?

It's on both sides, I think it's 50-50. It's on the coach and it's on the players too, when you have a lot of young guys without experience, it's tough, it's tough to learn how to play defense, even tougher how to play team-defense. I think it's going to come with experience.

Do you want a guy that does the dirty work down low so you can still have your game, be a three-point shooter.

My natural position is a power forward. Other than that, I don't know how they want to build the team next year. Of course, my position is power forward, always been.

I think you can tell that he is being very sincere and honest about his assessment. Which as a fan, I appreciate.
He's heard all the criticisms, and realizes that it is on him to make it better, for himself.

I do agree with him that it is not JUST the individuals who need to learn how to play defense; they NEED to learn how to play Defense as a team. And that is solely on the coaches in my opinion.

However, all that being said, he needs to acknowledge the fact that as a Senior Leader on this team, he needs to lead by example.
All of the most Vocal leaders in the league, Lead with their Voice as well as their actions. If Andrea wants to be a Leader he not only needs to say the right things, as he has done, but he needs to impliment them and show that he himself, has taken the necessary steps to improve himself.

Only then will he be respected for his game. Right now, he's respected for his ability to be so Tall and Still shoot half-effectively.

Actually, nearly everyone on this site, as well as the entire NBA, believe that Bargnani is an ineffective and liable defender. And there is absolutely no evidence to suggest that his defense will improve. It hasn't in 5 years in the NBA.

And Bargnani is an extraordinary scorer. He averages 21.4 ppg on 17.8 shots per game. That's very good, but not great, by any stretch of the imagination.

Also, why are you speaking for Bargnani? You're not Charlz' ex-girlfriend, are you?

A strong voice goes a long way. You are correct popular opinion seems to spreads really fast on this site and in the media as well.

Before this year was there any evidence to suggest Amir would be able to knock down an open jumper? Or Demar evolving so fast in only his second year? So believe it or not stranger things have happened. Have you ever though about how much a fool you would look like if bargnani doubled his defensive production. What if Bargnani averages 25 and 10 next year? Would that even be productive enough for you if the raptors are loosing? Or would you ramble on about how his help defense is horrible.

The same reason you’re speaking against bargnani.... hope it had nothing to do with your wife though because that would discredit all your bargnani post.

His rebounding numbers for a power forward would still rank as one of the league's worst. Making more of an effort on the defensive end would make a lot of people happy. Then again, trading him in the off-season would make a lot of people happy. One thing you gotta admire about the kid is that he's got thick skin - he aborbs all the criticism.

We have never really given Andrea the chance to play power forward beside a legit center, it would be interesting to see him play beside a vet center to see how things would change. If he stays with Toronto I am fine with it and hope he comes back strong, his contract it not that bad and he is a proven scorer....yes he needs more effort on the glass and on defense, but I like th guy. If we move him I am fine with that as well, we just need to get a real player in return.